We are delighted to welcome organist Stephen Farr on his first visit to Portico.

The programme will include John Stanley, J S Bach, Mendelssohn, Cecilia McDowall, and Philip Wilby.

About Stephen Farr

Stephen Farr has an established reputation as one of the leading organ recitalists of his generation, with an extensive discography to his credit; recent and pending releases have included J S Bach’s Clavierübung 3, Orgelbüchlein, and Chorale Partitas, the complete organ works of James Macmillan, a new commission by Francis Grier, works by Hieronymus Praetorius, music from the 17th century English repertoire, works by Judith Bingham, and the complete organ works of Kenneth Leighton (in a project described as a ‘towering triumph’ by The Guardian).

As a soloist he has played throughout Europe, in North and South America, and in Australia, and has appeared in the UK in venues including the Royal Albert Hall (where he gave the premiere of Judith Bingham’s The Everlasting Crown in a solo recital in the BBC Proms 2011, and appeared with the BBCSO under Sakari Oramo as a concerto soloist in the 2015 season); the Royal Festival Hall; Symphony Hall, Birmingham; Westminster Cathedral; St Paul’s Cathedral; King’s College, Cambridge; and Westminster Abbey. He gave the Scottish premiere of James Macmillan’s organ concerto ‘A Scotch Bestiary’ in the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival.

Ensemble work has included engagements with the Berlin Philharmonic, the CBSO, the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the LSO, and the Philharmonia; he made his debut in the Amsterdam Concertgebouw in 2005.

In 2017 he was appointed Chief Examiner of the Royal College of Organists. He also has an established reputation as a continuo player, working regularly with many leading ensembles, including the English Concert, OAE, Arcangelo, Academy of Ancient Music, and Dunedin Consort, with whom he is Principal Keyboard.

He was Organ Scholar of Clare College Cambridge from 1984-1987, graduating with a double first in Music and an MPhil in Musicology; he also holds a PhD in Music Performance from the University of Surrey.

Stephen combines his freelance activities with the post of Director of Music at All Saints, Margaret Street in London.

Supported by Lottery Project Funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland